Liquid control valve



Aug. 195 e. s. ATWATER 2,8o2,48o

LIQUID CONTROL VALVE Filed April 9, 1956 v i 43 a, 4

46 4 36 35"- 5.5. INVENTOR T GEORGE 's ATvAT-:R I

` BY %M M s 26 24 'a l s %#42 v v ATTORNEYS United States Patert *O LIQUID CONTROL VALVE George S. Atwater, Sarasota, Fla. Application April 9,1956, Serial No. 576,892

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-407) This invention relates 'to liquid control valves, and more particularly to an improved liquid inlet valve. The liquid inlet valve of the invention is particularly suitable for use as a water inlet control valve in a flush tank, and will be described as embodied in such an apparatus, although it is not restricted to such use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid inlet valve which is substantially noiseless ;in operation.

i It is another object of this invention .to provide a liquid inlet valve having an improved shut-oil seat.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved liquid inlet valve which is particularly suitable for use as a water inlet valve in a flush tank.

In achievement of these objectves, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of this invention a liquid inlet valve assembly including a hollow vertically extending tubular inner valve member fixed in position with respect to the liquid container, such as a flush tank, and connected to the source of liquid supply. The fixed valve member includes outlet openings which permit the liquid to pass into the container and also includes a hollow sound-deadening chamber which extends a substantial height above the outlet openings. A hollow vertically movable sleeve-like member closed at its upper end surrounds the fixed inner valve member to provide an additional sound-deadening hollow chamber which extends radially from the inner valve member. The outer sleeve member normally seats in sealing. engagement with a resilient valve seat member disposed about the lower end of the inner valve member, but is raised ofi of its seat in response to movement of a float in the container to permit liquid to pass outwardly from the inner valve member into the container to replenish the liquid supply in the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a view in a vertical section of a flush tank including the inlet valve of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical elevation, and partially in section, showing the movable valve member in unseated position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the valve Construction; and

Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section along line 4-`-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a flush tank having a water inlet control valve generally indicated at 12. Valve 12 includes a fixed inner valve member generally indicated at 14 of hollow cylindrical shape closed at its upper end and having a lower end 16 which is in screw-threaded engagement with a bushing 18 connected to the water supply. Inner valve member 14 has a pair of diametrically opposed water outlet openings 20 adjacent its lower end and a second pair of 'diametrically opposed openings 22 a short distance above openings 20 and lying on a line perpendicular to the line on which openings 20 lie. The location of the water outlet openings 20 and 22 in the lower part of fixed valve member 14 in combination with the hollow interior which extends for substantially the entire height of valve member` 14 provides an air chamber 23 of substantial height above the outlet openings which has a noise deadening function.

Bushing 18 passes through a tapered aperture 24 in the bottom of tank 10. A truncated conical scaling member 26 formed of a resilient material such as rubber is interposed between the outer surface of bushing 18 and the inner surface of aperture 24.

A U-shaped bracket member generally indicated at 28 has a base portion 30 which seats on the inner surface of the bottom of tank 10 and a pair of oppositely disposed leg members 32 which extend vertically upwardly in the tank. Bushing 18 passes through an aperture in base portion 30 of the bracket member and has a circular flange member 34 which seats on the upper surface of the base portion.

In the region where it engages bushing 18, the threaded end 16 of inner valve member 14 passes through a valve seat member 36 of truncated conical shape formed of resilient material, such as rubber. Valve seat member 36 is seated on the upper surface of flange 34 of bushing member 18. Valve seat member 36 has a countersunk recess 38 of larger diameter than inner valve member 14 and which extends inwardly from the upper surface of the valve seat member. A nut 40 Operating on the screw threaded end 16 of inner valve member 14 is movable into recess 38 and bears against a washer 41 which secures valve seat member 36 tightly against the upper surface of flange 34.

A movable valve sleeve member generally indicated at 42 of hollow cylindrical shape is co-axally positioned about inner valve member 14. Valve sleeve 42 carries on its interier a plurality of apertured bracket members 43 which are slidably movable on inner valve member 14 and guide valve sleeve 42 for vertical movement along the inner valve member. Valve sleeve member 42 is of substantially larger diameter than inner valve member 14 and provides a hollow air chamber 44 extending radially from inner valve member 14 for a vertical height slightly greater than the portion of the height of the inner valve member which projects above the upper surface of valve seat 36. The lower end of valve sleeve 42 includes a radially outwardly extending narrow flange or lip 46 which seats on the inclined surface of valve seat member 36 when sleeve 42 is in the seated position shown in Fig. 1 corresponding to the position which it occupies when flush tank 10 is full of water.

Valve sleeve 42 is provided at its upper end with a stud-like member 48 which is rigidly attached as by welding to the upper surface of the closed upper end of sleeve 42. Pivotally connected to stud 48 by a pin 50 passing through stud 48 is a yoke member generally indicated at 52 inc1uding a pair of oppositely disposed arms 54 and 56 which are joined together at their ccrresponding ends by a cross portion 58 having a threaded socket 60 which receives a rod 62. A ball float 64 is connected to the outer end of rod 62. Yoke 52 is pivotally supported for movement with respect to bracket 26 by a rod member 66 which extends between the opposite vertical arms 32 of bracket 28.

It can be seen that when the level of the water in flush tank 10 drops, valve sleeve member 42 is raised a short distance off its seat on valve seat member 36 as seen in Fig. 2 to thereby permit the Water to pass from the outlet openings 20 and 22 of inner valve member 14 into the tank. When the water in the tank reaches the desired height and the ball float 64 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, the outer sleeve member 42 is again seated on valve seat 36 to prevent further flow of water into the tank.

2,so2,4so p The provision of the hollow chamber 23 above th outlet openings 20 and 22 of valve member 14, in combnation with the hollow chamber 44 provided by the spacingvof the outer sleeve member 42 from the inner valve member 14, causes the operation of the valve to be practically noiseless. Furthermore, the movement ,of sleeve member 42 with respect to valve seat 36 provide a valving action which' is quiet and efficient in operation.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it Will be obvious to those skilled in^the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. V

What I claim as my nvention is:

l. A liquid inlet valve comprising a vertically extending hollow inner valve member closed at its upper end, said inner valve member having a liquid inlet disposed adjacent the lower end of said valve member, said valve member including a liquid outlet disposed intermediate the ends thereof and communicating with said liquid in-' let, said inner valve member including a hollow chamber extending above said liquid outlet toward said closed the lower end of said inner valve member, said valve sleeve member being engageable with and movable relative to said valve seat to control liquid flow from said valve.

2. A liquid inlet valve comprising a vertically extending tubular inner valve member closed at its upper end, means connecting the lower end of said inner valve member to a liquid supply, said inner valve member having a liquid outlet opening intermediate its upper and lower ends, said inner valve member having a hollow interier extending upwardly from said outlet opening to the upper end thereof to define a closed hollow air chamber adjacent said upper end, a tubular valve sleeve positioned end, a hollow vertically extending valve sleeve member closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, said valve sleeve member being positioned coaxially about said inner valve member to form a hollow chamber encircling said inner valve member, and a valve seat surrounding coaxially about said inner valve member, said valve sleeve being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end and defining a hollow chamber surrounding said inner valve member, a valve seat surrounding the lower end of said inner valve member, and means for moving said valve sleeve into and out of engag ement with said valve seat to control flow of fluid from said chamber about said inner valve member.

References Cited in the file of this patent g UNITED STATES PATENTS I Murphy Apr. 15, 1890 l,087,910 Grimm Feb. 17, 1914 1,294,908 Hill Feb. 18, 1919 Utley Nov. 9, 1926 

